River's Redemption: Blackwater, Book 5 (11 page)

“That’s it?” River rolled his eyes. “You break into my office and rifle through my private things, and you ask for my autograph?”

She placed the paper carefully back onto the stack. “I sort of thought that maybe the ban on this room was lifted considering the new level of our relationship.” She started to step away from the desk, but the paperweight caught her eye once more. The tiny little figure imbedded inside the heavy glass intrigued her. “So, what’s a big, manly guy like you doing with a paperweight with a blue fairy imbedded inside?”

River sighed and stepped away from the door. He came within a foot of her, plucked the trinket out of her hand and replaced it on the stack of papers. When his gaze landed on hers, he said, “Mom bought it for me. She said it would remind me not to take life too seriously.”

“Oh.” Jeanette felt silly. “Does she know about your writing?”

“Yes, but she’s the only one.” He tapped her nose. “And I’d like to keep it that way.”

Jeanette nodded, feeling unaccountably happy that she was privy to something so private. “Of course, but why?”

“Because it’s just something I do for me. The way some people might paint or write poetry. It’s a way for me to…express myself. To relieve pent-up stress or whatever you want to call it.”

“I know I’m butting in here, but it just seems like everyone would be so proud of you. Especially your brothers.” She paused, then asked, “Does your writing help with the nightmares?”

He stiffened a fraction, but he didn’t shut her out. Jeanette took it as a positive sign. “Yes. The stories of suspense and intrigue are my way of dealing with the things that have happened to me in the past. Each time I kill off the bad guy or send him to prison, it feels…good. And even though my brothers would support my writing, it’s just not something I’m ready to share. Maybe someday, but not yet.”

Jeanette cupped his jaw in her palm. “Well, I think you’re awesome. Not everyone could pen a tale the way you do. You always have me guessing until the very end.”

He took hold of her hand and kissed the palm. “Would you like to go with me later today? I had planned to go to a shooting range. I need to do some research for
Dead Eyes
. I need to see how far away my villain can accurately shoot his victim with a 7mm rifle.”

Guns? “Since when do you own a rifle?”

“It belongs to a friend,” he said as he walked them backward. “He’s a gun collector, and he’s been kind enough to let me borrow it. Unfortunately, he leaves for London tomorrow, so I only have the rifle for today.”

“I’d love to go with you.” His private life as an author fascinated her. “Do you always test out the things you write about in your stories?”

He lifted her into the air and placed her on the edge of the desk. “Whenever possible, yes,” he said as he smoothed her hair behind her ear. “I like to get a feel for it, so I can write the scene properly. Writing involves all the senses, and if I’ve never shot a rifle, then I can’t accurately set the scene for the reader.”

“You’re enthusiasm for your writing is a lot like the way I feel about law school. It’s tough but rewarding.”

“Your parents would be proud of you,” he said, a smile curving his lips. “I know I am.”

Funny, no one had ever been much interested in her coursework before. Most of the men she dated were too full of themselves to care. “Thank you. I just wish Mom and Dad were still here to see how far I’ve come.”

He kissed her on the forehead. “I think they’re looking down on you and thinking just how amazing you are.”

“I hope so.” Jeanette went breathless when she heard the praise in River’s sexy voice. That it came from him meant the world to her. The feel of him so close sent a blast of heat through her body, and soon she was losing the thread of the conversation.

River bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Now, enough about all that. Let’s get you back to bed, shall we?”

And just that fast, Jeanette melted.

River took Jeanette back to bed. He locked his gaze with hers and slowly undressed her before lying down next to her. “I missed you.” He lowered his head and kissed her soft lips.

“Well, I’m right here,” she murmured against his mouth.

“Yeah,” he groaned. “In my bed where you belong.” He moved down her body, then gently kissed her between the legs. She moaned beautifully for him. River lifted off her completely, knowing that she stared at his every movement, her anxious expression cutting through his haze of lust the way nothing else could.

River gently slipped his hands beneath her and turned her to her belly, careful to keep her as comfortable as possible. As he took in the sight of her, lying in the center of the rumpled bed, the low light of the bedside lamp turning her skin golden. Her sweet, slender body and her heart-shaped bottom mere inches away from his eager fingers and cock. Christ, he all but drooled.

“You’re gorgeous,” he said, praising her. “Every inch of you.”

She turned her head, her gaze catching his. “I’m not like the other women you’ve dated though. I’m not as…curvy.”

“No other woman could compare to you.” He told her. How could she doubt her own appeal? “All I want is you. All I need is this.” River touched the smooth skin of her ass. It was softer than any silk he’d ever touched. “Can I have it, sunshine?”

“Yes. Oh God, you make me want things,” she said in a breathless voice. “I’ve never felt so ready to come and you haven’t even touched the important spots yet.”

She spread her legs, pushing backward against his hand, as if it weren’t enough. Good, that was exactly the way he wanted her.

Reaching for the drawer in the nightstand, River pulled out a tube of lubricant. He slicked some over his throbbing dick, already swollen and dripping with precome at the thought of being buried deep. Gently, River separated the round globes of Jeanette’s backside and touched the head of his cock to her entrance, then slowly moved a mere inch inside. The snug fit was such sweet torture.

“Oh, River.”

Her quivery voice turned him on. Her body tensed beneath his and as he slipped in another inch. Holding her firmly by the hips to keep her body still for his slow invasion, River heard Jeanette let loose a needy little whimper. The yearning, delicate sound turned his heart to mush, and he gave her another heated inch of his hard, swollen erection. In the same instant, he took his right hand from her hip and toyed with the lovely little bud of her clitoris. She turned her face to the side and bit her lip. Her eyes were closed, and River watched in fascination at the play of emotions on her face as she became a slave to her body’s sensations. Suddenly she cried out his name and pushed against him as her orgasm took her.

It was sheer ecstasy to bring her such heights of pleasure. She was ten thousand more times the woman than any other.

“Now, Jeanette,” he snarled. “All of me. Do you want me to fill your pretty little ass?”

“Yes, damn it!”

A low sound escaped him at her feral response. He pushed himself the rest of the way inside her tightest opening, her muscles sucking him in. The pleasure of her body’s grip tore away all sane thought.

“Fuck,” he gritted out.

“Y-yes,” Jeanette cried as she grabbed hold of the blanket. He stroked her sweat-soaked hair away from her face, then covered her body with his, folding himself around her protectively. He kissed her shoulder and noted the way her inner muscles relaxed a fraction. “That’s good, sunshine,” he praised her as he gently bit the smooth line of her neck, then began a gentle rhythm with his hips.

She didn’t speak, only pushed against him, joining in the rhythm. Soon, he felt himself swell and his balls drew up tight. One more thrust and he was there, his cock erupting inside her, hot fluid filling her. She shouted his name, joining him with her own climactic finish.

A few seconds passed before he slipped free of her. She turned over and smiled up at him. “You’ve killed me.” A tenderness invaded his system as stared at her lying there like a contended cat. God, she was amazing. He reached down and tugged her into his arms. “Bath time.”

She snuggled closer and his heart swelled. “Then sleep?” she asked.

He chuckled. “Anything you want.”

“Careful with an offer like that.” She winked. “I just might take advantage of you.”

“Take advantage,” he murmured. “Definitely take advantage.”

Chapter Nine

Jeanette had been staying with River for nearly three weeks. She’d helped him multiple times with research on his book, and she’d begun to feel as if maybe they were finally an item. Although, River still hadn’t expressed his feelings beyond caring about her and finding her body irresistible. She wanted more. She wanted to know she wasn’t just a convenient sex partner. It felt like more, as if he cared. He was so tender with her, so attentive. But she might be seeing things that weren’t there. Wishful thinking?

It was Thursday morning, and he’d woken her with a kiss and breakfast in bed. No one had ever done anything so thoughtful for her. She’d fallen just a little further in love with him in that moment.

When she was about to spring those three little words on him, Jeanette’s cell phone rang. She reached across the bed and grabbed it off the nightstand. When she looked at the caller ID, her heart stuttered. Blackwater PD. “Hello?” She tucked her hair behind her ear and listened to the officer on the other end. “Thank you for calling.” She hit END and turned to River. He lay sprawled out on the bed, gloriously nude, reading the day’s headlines on his tablet.

“Who was it?” he asked, distracted by whatever was on his screen.

“The police,” she said. That got his attention. He set the tablet aside. “They caught the guy who mugged me.”

He sat up a little straighter. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. Turns out there was a group of them. They were robbing places all over the west side. When they caught one of them, it was basically a house of cards. They all fell. They’ve recovered my purse and license, but everything in it is gone.”

“It’s over, sunshine.” River tugged her across the bed and held her close to his chest. “I’ll sleep better at night knowing they busted them, that’s for damn sure.”

“I guess I can go home now, considering I don’t have to worry about some creep calling.”

“No,” River bit out.

Jeanette’s eyes widened, surprised by the finality of that single word, as well as the vehemence behind it. “What do you mean, no?”

“There is no need for you to leave here,” he said, his arms tightening around her. “You can stay. With me.”

Jeanette counted to ten, hoping to calm her racing heartbeat. “What are you suggesting exactly?” she asked, scared to hear his answer. Scared all the way to the bone.

River pulled back and stared down at her for several long seconds; then he cursed loud enough that Jeanette was sure everyone in the building heard every blistering word.

She pushed out of his arms. “Don’t curse at me, River Jennings.”

He shoved out of bed and began pacing the room. “Damn it, I’m sorry. I was taken by surprise when you said you were leaving. Look, just because they caught the guy, that doesn’t mean I want you to leave. I want you here, Jeanette, with me.”

Jeanette’s face softened. This would be a lot easier if she hadn’t fallen head over heels in love with the gorgeous man.

She stood up and went to him, wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against the solid wall of his chest. River took hold of her head with both hands and placed several small kisses on her cheeks, her forehead, then finally her mouth. The taste of him seared her insides. But she wouldn’t let him distract her with sex. She couldn’t. Things needed to be said.

“I want to stay, River, I really do. But for what? For more sex? I need more than that in a relationship. I need a commitment. Is that so bad?”

He released her and stepped away, his face shutting down so fast he looked like a complete stranger to her. “I see no reason to change things. The past three weeks were pretty awesome, right?” When she nodded, he continued, “We’ve always been great friends. The sex is pretty freaking awesome. And I can help you with expenses. College tuition, that sort of thing. You won’t have to do it all on your own anymore.”

Jeanette froze, unable to comprehend his words. “Wait, did you just offer to pay for my bills? All so you won’t have to lose your bedmate?”

His lips thinned. “What’s the problem?”

Shattered. With a few well-chosen words, River had managed to shatter her heart. “I can’t believe you just said that to me. You’re a fool, River Jennings.” Jeanette turned, ready to run, but he wasn’t quite through destroying her.

“I warned you, Jeanette. I’m damaged. I’ll always be a fucking mess. But you wanted this. No one forced you, damn it.”

She swiveled on her heels, her eyes going wide at his quiet remark. “You’re right. So, I guess I only have myself to blame for thinking that maybe, just maybe you could actually love me.”

He seemed to be pushing her away, as if by not agreeing to live with him, he was letting her go altogether. She hadn’t expected that. She’d thought he would fight the issue a little harder. River wasn’t the type to give up without a fight. Unless, of course, he really didn’t want her. That was when the truth struck her like a fist to the gut. He’d been curious about her. He’d admitted to being attracted to her. Now that he’d satisfied that curiosity, he wanted to keep her like a paid woman. He wanted her to stay, but only on his terms. Oh God, she was about to lose it.